Daily Digest: Wednesday 24th April
Europe
European markets lacked any real macroeconomic movement through the session, with no major data prints scheduled until next week. Activity on the FTSE 100 (FTSE) was strong, as traders eyed the 8,100 technical level. The index managed to test ground above 8,090 on three occasions, however, prices were ultimately rejected pushing momentum downwards into the close. The index ended the session 4.43 points (0.06%) down at 8,040.38.
Equity indexes across the Eurozone trended in similar directions, though declines were slightly sharper. The STOXX 600 (€SXXP) fell 2.18 points (0.43%) to 505.61, while the DAX (€GDAXI) index fell 48.95 points (0.27%) to 18,088.70, and the CAC (€FCHI) fell 13.92 (0.17%) to 8,091.86.
Rest of the World
The Japanese Nikkei 225 (¥N225) has continued to trade upward, closing higher for a third consecutive session with the index’s largest single session gain in over a month. Prices rose 907.92 points (2.42%) to 38,469,08. The sessions key technical levels were support around the 38,185 level, and resistance around the 38,430 mark which saw traders rejected from three times during the afternoon. A depreciation of the Yen will also have contributed to stronger Nikkei momentum, with the currency trading down against the US Dollar at 154.884 (as of 10:15 GMT), with traders almost breaking the 155 level early in the European session. As previously noted a depreciation of the Yen has numerous benefits for Japanese listed equities, and exporters. A cheaper Yen means that Japanese goods and equities are relatively cheaper for foreign investors and consumers, thus demand, contributing to higher output and asset pricing.
Investors in the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (¥SSE) saw some welcome relief through Wednesday, as the index ended a losing streak to close 22.84 points (0.76%) higher. The index trades into Thursday priced at 3,044.82, after a strong resistance level at 3,038 experienced a role reversal, becoming a support into the close.
The Indian Nifty 50 (₹NSEI) continued to rise on Wednesday, albeit lacking any real speed, as the index rose a further 34.4 points (0.15%) to 22,402.40. Traders faced heavy resistance at three technical levels above 22,450, which saw prices pushed as low as 22,384 before jumping into the close.
Commodities
US weekly crude inventories reported their first weekly drawdowns in around a month, falling by 6.4 million barrels despite analysts expecting further inventory increases. Once again, US inventory data failed to have any major impacts on WTI crude pricing with the market actually moving down 0.54% to $82.91 per barrel by 21:00 GMT.
Gold continued to sell off through Wednesday marking a third consecutive session of declines. Movement has been driven by an easing of tensions across the Middle East, alongside US rate cut expectations for 2024 dwindling prior to the start of the Fed’s April meet next week. As of 21:00 GMT, gold was trading down 0.45% at $2,331.50 per ounce.
Sources:
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/world-indices/
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/commodities
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/indices/ftse-100
https://www.binance.com/en-GB/price/bitcoin
https://www.binance.com/en-GB/price/ethereum
https://qontigo.com/index/sxxp/
Stock Market Activity Today & Latest Stock Market Trends | Nasdaq
https://coinmarketcap.com/charts/#market-cap
https://www.forexfactory.com
Definitions:
YoY - Year on Year, or, Year over Year
MoM - Month on Month, or, Month over Month
QoQ - Quarter on Quarter, or, Quarter over Quarter
ECB - European Central Bank
BOJ - Bank of Japan
Fed - Federal Reserve
BOE - Bank of England
SNB - Swiss National Bank
DOJ - Department of Justice